House of Strangers (1949)

Reference View | Change View

Approved
1h 41min
Crime, Drama
01 Jul 1949 (USA)
Movie

7.3 (4,188)

0

Rate

1

Rate

2

Rate

3

Rate

4

Rate

5

Rate

6

Rate

7

Rate

8

Rate

9

Rate

10

Rate

0

Error: please try again.

After years in prison, Max promises revenge on his brothers for their betrayal. His lover Irene and memories of his past yield him a broader perspective.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Philip Yordan, Jerome Weidman, Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Stars:

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination.
See more »

Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Trailer for this drama about a house divided

Still of Susan Hayward (I) and Richard Conte (I) in House of Strangers (1949)

Still of Edward G. Robinson (I), Hope Emerson, Esther Minciotti, Paul Valentine (I), Tito Vuolo and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in House of Strangers (1949)

Still of Richard Conte (I), Luther Adler, Paul Valentine (I) and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in House of Strangers (1949)

Still of Richard Conte (I), Luther Adler, Esther Minciotti, Debra Paget, Paul Valentine (I) and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in House of Strangers (1949)

Add Image

11 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

Edit


	Edward G. Robinson	...	Gino Monetti
	Susan Hayward	...	Irene Bennett
	Richard Conte	...	Max Monetti
	Luther Adler	...	Joe Monetti
	Paul Valentine	...	Pietro Monetti
	Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	...	Tony Monetti
	Debra Paget	...	Maria Domenico
	Hope Emerson	...	Helena Domenico
	Esther Minciotti	...	Theresa Monetti
	Diana Douglas	...	Elaine Monetti
	Tito Vuolo	...	Lucca
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Fred Aldrich	...	Construction Worker (uncredited)
	Maxine Ardell	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
	Larry Arnold	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Al Bain	...	Fight Spectator (uncredited)
	David Bauer	...	Prosecutor (uncredited)
	Martin Begley	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Ray Beltram	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Eumenio Blanco	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Nick Borgani	...	Townsman in Bank (uncredited)
	Paul Bradley	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Ralph Brooks	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
	Argentina Brunetti	...	Applicant (uncredited)
	John Butler	...	Bartender (uncredited)
	Mushy Callahan	...	Referee (uncredited)
	Steve Carruthers	...	Fight Spectator (uncredited)
	Neil Carter	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
	Dolores Castle	...	Secretary (uncredited)
	Bob Castro	...	Preliminary Fighter (uncredited)
	Steve Cavalieri	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Jack Chefe	...	Waiter (uncredited)
	Charles Cirillo	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Ray Dawe	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Geza De Rosner	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Franklyn Farnum	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
	Sam Finn	...	Man Outside Office (uncredited)
	Charles Flynn	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Tommy Garland	...	Pietro's Opponent (uncredited)
	Lelia Goldoni	...	Italian Girl (uncredited)
	Jack Gordon	...	Man Outside Office (uncredited)
	Kit Guard	...	Man in Crowd (uncredited)
	Robert Haines	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
	Stuart Hall	...	Restuarant Guest (uncredited)
	Donna Hamilton	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
	Maria Haro	...	Townswoman in Bank (uncredited)
	Ed Haskett	...	Juror (uncredited)
	Thomas Browne Henry	...	Judge (uncredited)
	Fred Hillebrand	...	Detective (uncredited)
	Marjorie Holliday	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
	Tom Humphrey	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	William Janssen	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
	Frank Jaquet	...	Man in Saloon Booth (uncredited)
	Michael Jeffers	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
	Geraldine Jordan	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
	John Kellogg	...	Danny (uncredited)
	Kay Koury	...	Citizen (uncredited)
	John Kullers	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
	Donna La Tour	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
	Scott Landers	...	Detective (uncredited)
	Walter Lawrence	...	Vendor (uncredited)
	Perk Lazelle	...	Fight Spectator (uncredited)
	Carl M. Leviness	...	Juror (uncredited)
	Jimmy Little	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Michael Macey	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	George Magrill	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Peter Mamakos	...	Bank Guard (uncredited)
	Rena Marlin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Joe Mazzuca	...	Batboy (uncredited)
	Charles McClelland	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Tony Merlo	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Robert Milasch	...	Chess Player (uncredited)
	Silvio Minciotti	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Howard M. Mitchell	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Ernesto Molinari	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Roger Moore	...	Architect (uncredited)
	Mike Morelli	...	Man Outside Office (uncredited)
	Ann Morrison	...	Juror (uncredited)
	Charles Morton	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Gilda Oliva	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Emma Palmese	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Dolores Parker	...	Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
	John Pedrini	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Jack Perry	...	Cornerman (uncredited)
	Joe Ploski	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	'Snub' Pollard	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Joe Rubino	...	Vendor (uncredited)
	Paul Russell	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
	Dick Ryan	...	Announcer (uncredited)
	Eddie Saenz	...	Preliminary Fighter (uncredited)
	Maurice Samuels	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Bernard Sell	...	Fight Spectator (uncredited)
	Mario Siletti	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Petra Silva	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Stephen Soldi	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Arthur Space	...	Bank Examiner (uncredited)
	George Spaulding	...	Doorman (uncredited)
	Robert St. Angelo	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Michael Stark	...	Cop (uncredited)
	Theresa Testa	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Guy Thomajan	...	Cabbie (uncredited)
	Sid Tomack	...	Waiter (uncredited)
	Jack Tornek	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
	Carlo Tricoli	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Phil Tully	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Philip Van Zandt	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Vicki Vann	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Herb Vigran	...	Man Next to Gino at Fight (uncredited)
	Frank Wilcox	...	Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
	Rhoda Williams	...	Woman (uncredited)
	Sally Yarnell	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Written by

Edit

Philip Yordan	...	(screenplay)

Jerome Weidman	...	(novel)

Joseph L. Mankiewicz	...	(screenplay) (uncredited)

Produced by

Edit

Sol C. Siegel

...

producer

Music by

Edit

Daniele Amfitheatrof

Cinematography by

Edit

Milton R. Krasner

...

director of photography (as Milton Krasner)

Editing by

Edit

Harmon Jones

Art Direction by

Edit

George W. Davis
Lyle R. Wheeler	...	(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by

Edit

Thomas Little
Walter M. Scott

Makeup Department

Edit

Ben Nye	...	makeup artist
Irene Brooks	...	hair stylist (uncredited)
Stephanie Garland	...	hair stylist (uncredited)
Dick Smith	...	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

Edit

Sid Bowen	...	production manager (uncredited)
R.L. Hough	...	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit

William Eckhardt

...

assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department

Edit

W.D. Flick	...	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	...	sound (as Roger Heman)

Visual Effects by

Edit

Fred Sersen

...

special photographic effects

Stunts

Edit

Sol Gorss

...

fight double: Paul Valentine (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit

J.V. Brown	...	gaffer (uncredited)
Logan Brown	...	grip (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	...	camera operator (uncredited)
Jerry Milligan	...	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit

Charles Le Maire	...	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)
Joan Joseff	...	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

Edit

Maurice De Packh	...	orchestrator (as Maurice de Packh)
Earle Hagen	...	orchestrator (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

Edit

Weslie Jones

...

script supervisor (uncredited)

Additional Crew

Edit

Mushy Callahan	...	technical advisor (uncredited)
Fred Lambert	...	double (uncredited)
Tito Vuolo	...	dialogue director (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

Edit

Twentieth Century Fox

Distributors

Edit

Twentieth Century Fox (1949) (United States) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1949) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century-Fox (1949) (Mexico) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox (1949) (Belgium) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox (1949) (France) (theatrical)
Twentieth Century Fox (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
CBS/Fox (1990) (United States) (VHS)
Swashbuckler Films (2016) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
Odeon Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit

Plot Summary	In New York, after seven years in prison, the lawyer Max Monetti goes to the bank of his brothers Joe, Tony and Pietro Monetti and promises revenge to them. Then he visits his lover Irene Bennett that asks him to forget the past and start a new life. Max recalls the early 30s, when he is the favorite son of his father Gino Monetti, who has a bank in the East Side. Gino is a tyrannical and egocentric self-made man that raises his family in an environment of hatred and Max is a competent lawyer engaged with Maria Domenico. When Max meets the confident Irene, he has a troubled love affair with her. In 1933, with the new Banking Act reaches Gino for misapplication of funds. Max plots a plan to help his father but is betrayed by his brothers. Now Max will see his brothers that have also being raised under the motto "Never Forgive, Never Forget". Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	man-slaps-a-woman revenge past mankiewicz-and-hayward prison See All (35) »
Taglines	A powerhouse of emotion. See more »
Genres	Crime Drama Film-Noir Thriller
Parents Guide	Add content advisory for parents »
Certification	Finland:K-16 Germany:12 Italy:T Norway:16 Spain:18 Sweden:15 United Kingdom:A United Kingdom:PG (video rating) United States:TV-PG (TV Rating) United States:Approved West Germany:12

Additional Details

Edit

Also Known As	East Side Story (United States) La maison des étrangers (France) Odio entre hermanos (Spain) Sangre de mi sangre (Mexico) Sangre de mi sangre (Chile) See more »
Runtime	101 min
Country	United States
Language	English Italian
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Filming Locations	Little Italy, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA See more »

Did You Know?

Edit

Trivia	According to Kenneth L. Geist's biography of the film's director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, "People Will Talk", the film's producer Sol Siegel hired Philip Yordan to adapt Joseph Weidman's novel for the screen. After Yordan submitted three-quarters of the script, Siegel, finding the script unacceptable, fired him and asked Mankiewicz to redo the script. Mankiewicz rewrote all of Yordan's dialogue, reshaped the script and finished it. The Screen Writers Guild ruled that Yordan receive sole story credit and that Yordan and Mankiewicz share credit for the screenplay. Mankiewicz refused to share credit for a screenplay he had basically written and so received no credit. The studio remade House of Strangers as a western in 1954 as Broken Lance and Yordan was given credit for the story and won an Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. See more »
Goofs	At 2:00, Max approaches the front door of the Monetti Trust and Loan building. A young woman wearing a beret and a vertically-striped jacket steps out of the door, makes a right turn (from Max's perspective), and continues to walk until she disappears into the right side of the frame. 15 seconds later, the same woman is seen walking in front of the same building--again from Max's left to to his right--as if she had never been inside. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (2008). See more »
Soundtracks	Largo al factotum See more »
Quotes	Max Monetti: Always looking for a new way to get hurt from a new man. Get smart, there hasn't been a new man since Adam. See more »

Getting Started | Contributor Zone »